Falklands : Report on Executive Council 30 August 2017
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 30.09.2017 (Current Article)
Elected Members present were the Hon. Roger Edwards MLA, the Hon. Mike Summers MLA and the Hon. Jan Cheek MLA.
Report on Executive Council 30 August 2017
Elected Members present were the Hon. Roger Edwards MLA, the Hon. Mike Summers MLA and the Hon. Jan Cheek MLA.
There was a longer agenda than at recent meetings. We noted the forward plan which lists completed, on-going and future tasks.
The first substantive paper recommended the extension of the FIPASS Management Agreement which was agreed. The second, also agreed, dealt with the request from the Falkland Gun Club for exemption from pool betting duty. The next financial paper approved outlined the 11th European Development Fund Agreement and included authority for the FIG London Representative to sign on behalf of FIG. This of course highlights useful support currently provided by the EU which may be lost after Brexit.
The final paper in this section considered requests for several additional camp roads which required lengthy discussion of different considerations in each case requiring more work to be done, including on the standards to which they may be built.
A policy paper containing the 2015 National Accounts was noted and will be published.
Two immigration appeals were considered. We then approved the Revised List of Prohibited Persons and agreed a number of recommendations. This will mean that we now have the ability to deny entry to those listed. The lists include those deported for some reason, those convicted of serious offences and those who have tried to bring in or take out forbidden items. It also deals with those known to have committed vandalism and other unlawful activities on earlier visits. Members are very pleased that this is now in place to prevent the return of known offenders.
The renewal of a recognised scheme allowing students from the University of Magallanes to visit and get work experience with Stanley Growers was agreed.
A policy paper on child minding and day care was agreed which will lead to further work and ultimately legislation and regulation.
Some ‘tidying up’ amendments to the Members’ Remuneration Bill were agreed, these clarify areas which were previously unclear.
As part of the Family Law Review a draft amendment to introduce Special Guardianship Orders was agreed. When passed, this will allow orders as an alternative to adoption or fostering when the right criteria are met. These orders could also be an alternative to residence orders where a child is being cared for by a member of their extended family, not a parent.
We approved a draft for changes to the Commons Ordinance which takes into account many of the suggestions that came out of the consultation including the public meetings. We also approved the drafting of a management plan which should also cover some of the concerns raised at those meetings.
There were several Minerals papers. The first will enable the release of a consultation paper on Offshore Minerals Environmental Legislation. Another dealt with an application to extend licences which will go through the agreed process. The last simply allows officers to finalise agreements for the removal of the damaged hangar.
Finally we agreed a paper which asked authority to fund two additional learning support assistants for pupils with identified special educational needs. Members recognise the value of early intervention to ensure the best outcome for an individual child.
Jan Cheek MLA
1 September 2017
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